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Something we should be past

It doesn’t take long at all for a single case of the measles to turn into a genuine outbreak. In Ohio, the number of cases in Ashtabula County alone had grown to 11 by the end of last week. There were seven in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties. It takes even less time, it seems, for irresponsible political rhetoric and misinformed (or just plain dishonest) social media nonsense to spread in a way that is just as dangerous. By mid-April of 2025, the U.S. has more than double the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024. There are outbreaks in Ohio, Texas ...

Vote yes on issue 2

Off-year spring ballots can be full of significant decisions for voters — often the kind that affect us in ways that hit closer to home than what is happening in Washington, D.C. In Ohio, voters will be asked in May to decide on Issue 2 — renewing and increasing the state spending cap for its public works projects. Since 1987, Buckeye State voters have renewed the Local Public Infrastructure Bond Amendment three times, and more than 19,000 grants and loans have been funded for projects all over the state — roads, bridges, retaining walls and other public works. The program allows ...

We’ll believe it when we see it

Most of us know to brace ourselves when we read an anticipated response that begins with “after careful consideration.” That was certainly necessary for Licking County residents after Microsoft followed those words with “we will not be moving forward at this time with our plans to build data centers at the Licking County sites.” Microsoft confirmed earlier this week that it has decided against the development, proving Licking County Commission President Tim Bubb wise to have told WCMH nearly two years ago, “We’ll believe it when we see it.” To be fair, Microsoft said it ...

Untapped potential in Ohio

Ohio lawmakers have until the end of June to pass a budget. But already, members of the House of Representatives have adopted a version that ignores initiatives proposed by other lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine to help address the child care challenges faced by many Buckeye State families. Failure to act on this front will perpetuate a vicious cycle that is hurting families and employers, according to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Groundwork Ohio, “Untapped Potential in Ohio.” In fact, it is costing approximately $5.48 ...

Liv’s Law now in effect

Today in Ohio the penalties for operating a vehicle while under the influence have gotten harsher. Liv’s Law (House Bill 37) is now in effect. It was born of tragedy, when Olivia Wright was killed by a drunk driver, and her father decided to act. “A constituent, Bryan Wright, brought this issue to my desk after losing his daughter, Olivia, to a drunk driver,” said state Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Chillicothe. “He pointed out to me how weak Ohio’s laws are compared to other states in the nation, and that is what inspired me to work on this legislation in an attempt to try and ...

What has gone wrong here

Infant mortality in Ohio is a matter of great concern for policymakers who understand we must give our best effort to reverse alarming trends. Here, the overall infant mortality rate is 7.1 per 1,000 births (using the most recent data available, from 2022). The national average for that year was 5.6 per 1,000. Even worse, black infants in Ohio are 2.4 times more likely to die than white infants. “While other states have made significant strides in reducing infant mortality and addressing disparities in birth outcomes, progress in Ohio has stagnated,” wrote the authors of a report ...